President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, at Owerri campaign, spoke on the lingering crisis rocking the Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the emergence of its governorship candidate.
The President urged members of the APC to forget about their individual differences and vote freely for candidate of their choice at the governorship election, irrespective of intra or inter party issues going on.
President Buhari however raised the hand of Senate Hope Uzodinma as the Governorship Candidate backed by National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. The APC national chairman attended the Imo campaign on Tuesday with grievances written all over his face. He also raised the hand of Okorocha as Senatorial Candidate on the platform of APC.
Fully aware of what is going on, President Buhari remained calm and apparently tried his best to ensure balance between the party chairman and Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, who told him when it was his time on the microphone that he was on ground in the state and crowd signified authentication.
Okorocha told the President that people that were being asked to speak so far were not the right people to speak on the occasion but that he and his mammoth crowd of supporters were at the campaign ground to honour the President with rousing welcome because of him and him alone.
It will be recalled that Governor Okorocha is supporting his former Chief of Staff, Uche Nwosu while the National Chairman of the party Adams Oshiomhole backs Senator Hope Uzodinma, who emerged the APC candidate under controversial circumstances.
Nwosu, however, picked the governorship ticket of the Action Alliance (AA) with the state chapter of the APC now polarised on who to vote.
The Imo State chapter of AA endorsed Buhari after the emergence of Nwosu and promised to secure one million votes for him.
In an open emotion laden tone, Oshiomhole talked tough even with President Buhari standing, saying “Mr. President! Uzodinma is APC candidate for Imo State” and that there will be no alliance with any party at the election.
But more experienced President Buhari, in his speech at the Dan Anyiam Stadium during his campaign rally, tried to save the public embarrassment that was glaring and countered the APC National Chairman who has mandated APC members to vote for Uzodinma.
To many who sympathise and stand with the President as leadership of his party, despite his directives several times in the past for NWC to harmonize all aggrieved members and carry them along, what happened in Owerri Tuesday afternoon was Oshimomhole and Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Rotimi Amaechi putting him in difficult situation but which he weathered through.
President Buhari went ahead to tell Imo APC supporters that, “You can vote for whosoever you want, do not allow intra or inter party affairs stop you from voting for the candidate of your choice”.
But Oshiomhole had boasted that the APC does not need the support of any party, referring to Okorocha candidate’s AA to deliver President Buhari in the state.
He said: “Let me make it clear that the APC is not in alliance with any party, we have the power to deliver the President.
“You should vote for Uzodinma as our governorship candidate, don’t be deceived by anybody”.
Okorocha, apparently deploying maturity in respect for the President present, made it clear that he was the person on ground in Imo State and that President should see his re-election as “signed and sealed.”
